UC SERVES 2017A community service initiative hosted by ELSA and the Center for Community Engagement

The fourth annual #UCServes brought together over 400 Faculty/Staff from the University of Cincinnati to participate in a day of service on May 19, 2017 throughout the greater Cincinnati region that included over 40 different service sites and over 2800 hours of service in our community.

About UC Serves

UC connects with its neighbors and builds stronger connections within the campus community through UC Serves. UC Serves is a day especially for staff and faculty to share in the common experience of intentional, focused service to the communities surrounding University of Cincinnati campuses.

In the same mold as the annual Into the Streets one-day service project for students, UC Serves offers staff the chance to give back to the community while building a stronger network of colleagues on campus through the shared experience of meaningful engagement.

WHAT?

UC Serves is an opportunity organized especially for University of Cincinnati faculty and staff to give back to the community through meaningful engagement. Think of UC Serves as a way to embrace the university's commitment to enhancing communitywide partnerships and investing in faculty and staff development as outlined in UC's Creating Our Third Century initiative and Just Community Principles. UC Serves will allow you to not only "talk the talk" but also "walk the walk" through one day of intentional, focused service to the communities surrounding University of Cincinnati campuses.

HOW?

UC Serves will offer a variety of service options, allowing you to choose a preferred volunteering experience that suits your interests. Maybe you have a knack for gardening, or maybe you’re handy with a hammer and nail. It's your choice – you can suggest how you would prefer to contribute. Here are a few options:

Physical service, like performing basic home repairs for veterans or individuals with disabilities

Environmental service, like planting trees or beautifying a neighborhood park or community space

Working with children, adults or animals to increase quality of life and to demonstrate UC’s interest in compassionate outreach

Administrative or clerical support to increase the capacity of a nonprofit or community-based organization

WHEN?

WHERE?

UC Serves is where you want it to be. Service sites will be established in the communities surrounding University of Cincinnati campuses – Clifton, Clermont and Blue Ash. For example, if you work at the Uptown Campus but live closer to Blue Ash, you can decide to volunteer near either location. Some examples of service sites from last year include:

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge

The Cincinnati Community Toolbank

Granny’s Garden School

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Summerside Elementary School

Many more

WHAT IS ELSA?

Emerging Leaders in Student Affairs (ELSA) organized UC Serves. ELSA seeks to cultivate a landscape of professional scholarship and advancement among rising staff members at UC. The group is open to staff members whose work would benefit from increased professional development opportunities, exposure to Student Affairs research and professional networking and mentoring programming. Get involved with ELSA.